Okanagan bracing for more wildfire smoke as heat and dry weather return
Smoke blanketing the Okanagan. (Image Credit: Vernon Matters Staff)
The Okanagan is heading back toward summer heat after a brief round of weekend rain, with temperatures expected to climb into the low 30s later this week.
A building ridge of high pressure is expected to bring mostly sunny skies beginning Monday night and continuing through much of the week.
But the clearer skies could come with a familiar downside: wildfire smoke.
Environment Canada is forecasting local smoke in the Vernon and Kelowna areas, with Penticton facing widespread smoke.
The threat for additional wildfire starts is also real. Another weather system could move into the Southern Interior Thursday, bringing the potential for thunderstorms.
B.C. wildfire crews had a busy weekend, with more than 7,000 lightning strikes recorded across the province in just 24 hours. About 50 new fires were reported, but crews were able to contain or hold roughly 60 per cent of them, helped by rainfall.
